Coproduction as a normative posture

"Coproduction as a Normative Posture" is a non-fiction book that explores the development of the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS), particularly in the 1980s and 1990s. The author, Rune Nydal, examines why normative questions have often been sidelined in STS and how an alternative normative stance can be developed within this research field. Drawing on the works of Charles Taylor, it illustrates how the classical epistemological tradition has shaped the methodological ideals that dominate the study of science and technology. The book highlights the challenges arising from the development of new methods in STS and presents the idea of coproduction as a promising approach. The argument is supported by an empirical analysis of functional genomics in Norway between 1997 and 2002. Nydal calls for increased interaction between philosophy and STS and discusses the philosophical approaches of Charles Taylor and Bruno Latour.